Portable work support assembly

ABSTRACT

A portable collapsible saw horse comprising an elongated support beam having a pair of leg members, each being hingedly attached to the support beam proximate each of the transverse ends thereof. The leg members are swingable from a closed position where they lie parallel to and in juxtaposition to the support beam to an open position where they extend downwardly from and are angularly located with respect to the support beam. A pair of leg elements are hingedly connected to each of the leg members. These leg elements are also shiftable from a closed position where they lie in juxtaposition to each other and are coplaner with the leg member with which they are associated to an open position where they are angularly located with respect to each other and extend outwardly from the respective leg member with which they are associated. In this way, the legs can be folded in a manner where the saw horse is collapsed for portability and opened for use in receiving work pieces in supportive engagement on the elongated support beam.

United States Patent [191 Kirkpatrick PORTABLE WORK SUPPORT ASSEMBLY [76] Inventor: James R. Kirkpatrick, 609 How,

Lemay, Mo. 63125 22 Filed: May 4,1972

21 Appl. No.: 250,376

[52] US. Cl. 182/155 Primary ExaminerReinaldo P. Machado AttorneyRobert J. Schaap 11 3,738,451 June 12, 1973 [5 7] ABSTRACT A portable collapsible saw horse comprising an elongated support beam having a pair of leg members, each being hingedly attached to the support beam proximate each of the transverse ends thereof. The leg members are swingable from a closed position where they lie parallel to and in juxtaposition to the support beam to an open position where they extend downwardly from and are angularly located with respect to the support beam. A pair of leg elements are hingedly connected to each of the leg members. These leg elements are also shiftable from a closed position where they lie in juxtaposition to each other and are coplaner with the leg member with which they are associated to an open position where they are angularly located with respect to each other and extend outwardly from the respective leg member with which they are associated. In this way, the legs can be folded in a manner where the saw horse is collapsed for portability and opened for use in receiving work pieces in supportive engagement on the elongated support beam.

13 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED JUN] 2l973 3, '7 38 ,451

PORTABLE WORK SUPPORT ASSEMBLY This invention relates in general to certain new and useful improvements in work support assemblies, and more particularly, to portable collapsible saw horses.

For many years, carpenters and other craftsmen have used work support assemblies, typically referred to as saw horses in many applications. Generally, these saw horses comprise an elongated generally horizontally disposed support beam with a pair of legs extending downwardly and outwardly at locations proximate each of the transverse ends of the support beam. One or more struts may extend between the legs at each transverse end or between the respective legs and the support beam for increased rigidity and stability. When using these devices, a work piece is supported on one or more of these devices so that the work piece is elevated from the ground or other support surface. In this manner, the craftsman can more efficiently saw, drill or perform any of a variety of work functions on these work pieces.

However, these saw horses are generally heavy and bulky in their construction. These saw horses generally are not nestable or readily stackable due to their mode of construction and hence consume substantial amount of storage area. Furthermore, as a result of their bulky construction, these commercially available saw horses are difficult to carry and otherwise manipulate. These saw horses are often used at a site of work and accordingly must be transported to these work sites. However, as a result of the problems mentioned above, transporting of these devices becomes a difficult problem and oftentimes, special provision must be made in many transporting vehicles for carrying saw horses.

In order to overcome these problems mentioned v above, there have been several recent attempts to provide saw horses which can be assembled and disassembled at the site of use. These attempts generally reside in the construction of a saw horse where the components thereof are detachable. Thus, the legs forming part of the saw horse are screwed into threaded apertures formed in the support beam or are otherwise removably attached to the support beam in some manner where they can be readily removed therefrom. However, these types of saw horses have not been very effective inasmuch as they are difficult and time consuming to assemble. Furthermore, they are not very sturdy in the assembled condition, particularly when a work piece of any substantial weight is supported on these devices or when a load of any substantial force is imposed thereon.

It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to provide a portable, collapsible saw horse which canbe folded into a small, compact unit for easy and convenient storage and transportability.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable, collapsible saw horse of the type stated which is durable in its construction and sturdy when in the opened condition.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a portable, collapsible saw horse of the type stated which can be economically manufactured on a mass production basis.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a portable, collapsible saw horse of the type stated which requires substantially no assemblying of component parts and only requires an opening of the saw horse from its collapsed, transportable condition for use thereof.

It is another salient object of the present invention to provide a portable, collapsible saw horse of the type stated which is light in weight and yet rigid in its construction.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement and combination parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

Generally speaking, the present invention relates to a portable work assembly such as a saw horse which comprises a first member having a surface adapted to receive a work piece in supportive engagement thereon in a manner in which work can be performed on this work piece. Generally, the first member takes the form of a horizontally located elongated support beam. A second member, generally in the form of a leg member is pivotally mounted near one transverse end of the support beam by means of a first hinge member. A third member, also in the form of a leg member, is pivotally mounted near the opposite transverse end of the support beam by means of a second hinge member. Accordingly, these leg members depend from the bottom wall of the support beam in spaced apart relationship and are swingable through an arc in a first plane which is a vertical plane and perpendicular to the bottom wall. In this way, the leg members are swingable from a closed position where they are located in relatively flat juxtaposition to and parallel to the bottom wall, to an open position where they are angularly disposed to the bottom wall of the support beam and depend generally downwardly therefrom.

A first pair of extended elements, generally in the form of leg elements, are pivotally mounted on the first leg member and a second pair of extended elements, also in the form of leg elements, are pivotally mounted on the second leg member. The leg elements common to this first pair will lie in juxtaposition to each other and the leg elements common to the second pair also lie in juxtaposition to each other and extend in planes substantially parallel to the respective first and second leg members with which they are associated, when these first and second leg members are folded so that they lie in juxtaposition to and are parallel to the bottom wall of the support beam. Furthermore, these leg elements of each of the pairs are shiftable through respective arcs in second and third planes which are relatively perpendicular to the first plane in such manner that the leg elements are shiftable to a position where the elements of each pair are angularly located with respect to each other and are angularly located with respect to the leg members with which they are associated.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, third hinge members hingedly mount the first pair of leg elements on the first leg member and fourth hinge members hingedly mount the second pair of leg elements on the second leg member. In addition, the second hinge member is spaced downwardly on the second leg member with respect to the location of the first hinge member on the first leg member. In this way, the first leg member can be folded under the bottom wall of the support beam so that it lies in essentially facewise disposition with the bottom wall of the first member. Further-more, the second leg member is folded under the first leg member so that it lies in essentially facewise disposition to the first leg member.

Restraining means are operatively associated with the third and fourth hinge members for limiting the shiftable movement of each of the leg elements in each of the pairs of leg elements. In one embodiment of the present invention, this restraining means comprises first link means which extends between the first leg member and each of the leg elements forming the first pair of leg elements, as well as second link means which extends between the second leg member and each of the leg elements forming the second pair of leg elements. A restraining means is also operatively associated with the first hinge member and the second hinge member for limiting the shiftable movement of each of the first and second leg members.

In'the accompanying drawings (one sheet):

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable saw horse constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the saw horse of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a left end elevational view of the saw horse of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a leg element movement restraining mechanism forming part of the saw horse of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of one of the leg member movement restraining mechanisms forming part of the saw horse of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 5.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawings which illustrate practical embodiments of the present invention, A designates a portable saw horse comprising an elongated support beam 10 which is generally rectangular in construction. The beam 10 is preferably formed of wood with substantial thickness so that it is capable of supporting the weight of a work piece disposed on the upper surface thereof or for supporting a load which may be imposed on the beam.

Secured to the bottom wall of the beam 10 near the left-hand transverse end thereof, reference being made to FIG. 1, by fastening means such as wood screws 12, is a hinge plate 14 forming part of a hinge member 16. The hinge plate 14 also integrally includes laterally opposed upwardly struck tabs 18 which engage the longitudinal side walls of the beam 10 and which may also be secured thereto by means of additional wood screws or other forms of mechanical fasteners (not shown). A hinge pin 20 connects a knuckle joint on the hinge plate 14 to a mating knuckle joint on a matching hinge plate 22 which is, in turn, secured to a depending leg 24, the latter often being referred to as a leg member. The hinge plate 22 is secured to the interiorly presented surface of the leg 24 by means of wood screws or other forms of mechanical fasteners (not shown). By reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 it can be observed that the hinge pin 20 which constitutes the axis of hinged pivotal movement of the leg 24, or in essence the hinge point for permitting the swingable movement of the leg 24, is located immediately beneath the bottom wall of the support beam 10. The hinge plate 22 may also be integrally provided with laterally opposed outwardly struck tabs 26 which engage the longitudinal side walls of the leg 24 and may also be secured thereto by means of wood screws or other forms of mechanical fasteners (not shown).

Secured to the bottom wall of the support beam 10 near the right-hand transverse end thereof, by means of wood screws 28 or other forms of mechanical fasteners, is a hinge plate 30. integrally formed with the hinge plate 30 along its laterally opposed margins are a pair of upwardly struck tabs 32 which engage the longitudinally extending side walls of the beam 10 and which also may be secured thereto by means of wood screws or any of a number of mechanical fastening elements. The hinge plate 30 integrally merges into a generally downwardly struck plate section 34 which is essentially parallel to and lies in the plane of location of a generally downwardly estending leg or so-called leg member 36. The hinge plate section 34 is also integrally provided with outwardly struck tabs 38 which may engage the longitudinal side walls of the leg members 36 when the leg member 36 is shifted to the open position in a manner to be hereinafter described in more detail. A matching hinge plate 40 is also rigidly secured to the interiorly presented wall of the leg member 36 by means of wood screws or other forms of mechanical fasteners (not shown) and is located in alignment with the hinge plate 34 when the leg 36 is shifted to the fully open position. The matching hinge plates 34 and 42 are provided with mating aligned knuckle joints for receiving a hinge pin 44 thereby permitting pivotal movement of the leg member 36 with respect to the support beam 10.

By further reference to FIG. 1 of the drawings, it can be observed that the hinge pins 20 and 44 lie in horizontal planes which are parallel to a horizontal plane passing through the support beam 10. In addition, it can be observed that while the hinge pin 44 is parallel in space to the hinge pin 20, it is nevertheless located in a horizontal plane beneath that of the hinge pin 20. In this way, the leg member 24 can be swung from its open position as illustrated in the solid lines of FIG. 1 to its closed position as illustrated in the dotted lines of FIG. I, about the hinge point 20. Thus, the leg 24 can be shifted so that it is essentially located in parallel relation to and in juxtaposition to the bottom wall of the support beam 10. In like manner, the hinge pin 40 is located at a point beneath the bottom wall of the support beam 10 which is approximately equivalent to the thickness of the leg member 24. In this way, the leg member 36 can also be swung to its closed position about the axis of the pivot pin 44 where it lies parallel to and in juxtaposition to the leg member 24. In FIG. 2 the fully open position of the leg 36 is illustrated in the dotted lines and the leg 36 is shown in solid lines as being approximately midway between the fully open position and the fully closed position.

A pair of leg elements which form extensions of and cooperate with each of the leg members 24 and 36 are operatively associated with each of these leg members.

' Accordingly, a pair of leg elements 46 and 48 are assoand 58 respectively. In this way, the leg elements 46 and 48 are swingable with respect to the leg member 24.

It can be observed from FIG. 2 that the leg elements 46 and 48 each individually have a thickness which is substantially equal to the thickness (in the longitudinal dimension) of the leg member 24 so that they are essentially coplaner with the leg member 24. It can also be observed from FIG. 3 of the drawings that the leg elements 46 and 48 have a width (that is the thickness in the transverse dimension) which is approximately onehalf of the over-all transverse dimension of the leg member 24 so that when located in juxtaposition to each other as illustrated in FIG. 3, the two leg elements 46 and 48 appear to form extensions of and are completely coplaner with the leg member 24.

The hinged connection between the leg elements 46 and 48 and the host leg member 24 permits the leg elements 46 and 48 to be swung to an open position as illustrated in FIG. 1 so that they are coplaner with the leg member 24 when viewed in side elevation, but are nevertheless angularly disposed and extend outwardly from the leg member 24 when viewed in end elevation. The. leg elements 46 and 48 can be shifted to the closed position where they lie in juxtaposition to each other and appear to be an extension of the leg member 24 both in side elevation and end elevation. FIG. 3 thus shows the leg element 46 in the open position and leg element 48 in the closed position (in solid lines) and in the open position (in dotted lines).

The lower ends of the leg elements 46 and 48 are not parallel to the upper ends thereof but are actually oblique in both longitudinal and transverse dimensions with respect to the upper faces of the leg elements 46 and 48. Thus, when the leg elements 46 and 48 are shifted to the open position the bottom faces thereof will lie in true facewise engagement with the floor or other supporting surface, since the leg elements 46 and 48 are angularly displaced in the transverse direction with respect to the leg member 24 and also are angularly displaced in the longitduinal direction with respect to the support beam 10.

The limit of movement of the leg elements 46 and 48 in the open position is controlled by a leg element movement restraining means in the form of a pair of limit restraining links 60 and 62 which are more fully illustrated in FIG. 4. The links 60 and 62 are pivotally secured at their lower ends to the exteriorly presented transverse end faces of the respective leg elements 46 and 48 by means of pivot pins 64 and 66 which extend into and are rigidly retained by the leg elements 46 and 48. The movement restraining links 60 and 62 are provided with elongated slots 68 which are sized to slidably accommodate a pin 70 extending outwardly from and rigidly retained by the leg member 24. Thus, when the leg elements 46 and 48 are shifted to the closed position where they lie in juxtaposition and facewise engagement with respect to each other, the pin 70 will have shifted in the elongated slots 68 so that the pin 70 lies at the lower end of these slots 68. In like manner, when the leg elements 46 and 48 are shifted to the open position, the pin 70 will lie at the upper end of the respective slots 68 thereby restraining further outward shifting movement of the leg elements 46 and 48. Thus, this link mechanism comprises a very effective and economical way of providing a limit restraining means for limiting the outer shiftable movement of the leg elements 46 and 48.

A pair of leg elements 72 and 74 are also associated with and are hingedly mounted on the leg member 36 in the same manner that the leg elements 46 and 48 are hingedly mounted on the leg member 24. In addition, these leg elements 72 and 74 are shiftable from a closed position where they also lie in juxtaposition with respect to each other to an open position as illustrated in FIG. 1. The leg elements 72 and 74, as well as the leg member 36, are provided with metal reinforcing plates and hinge pins 76 which provide the hinge joints for the pivotal movement thereof. The leg elements 72 and 74 coact with respect to the leg member 36 in exactly the same manner and are pivoted in exactly the same manner and through the same structure as leg elements 46 and 48 which operate in conjunction with the leg member 24. Accordingly, the details of construction of the hinged connection between the leg elements 72 and 74 and the leg member 36 is not illustrated or described in any further detail herein. However, it should also be observed that link restraining means which are substantially identical to the restraining links 60 and 62 are also used to regulate the limit of movement of the leg elements 72 and 74 with respect to the leg member 36.

A pair of transversely extending brackets 80 and 82 are secured to the underside of the support beam 10 inwardly of the respective hinge plates 14 and 30, and each are integrally provided with a pair of downwardly extending flange plates along opposite longitudinal sides of the support beam 10 for receiving transversely extending pintles 84 and 86, respectively. These brackets 8t) and 82 are designed to hold the ends of link restraining means 88 which controls the degree of movement of the leg member 24 with respect to the support beam 10. An identical link restraining means 98 is also provided which controls the degree of movement of the leg member 36 with respect to the support beam 16. Accordingly, only one of these link restraining means 88 will be illustrated or described in any further detail herein. The link restraining means 88 generally comprises a pair of transversely spaced link members 92 (only one being shown in FIG. 5) pivotally secured to the opposite ends of the pintle 84 on essentially opposite longitudinal sides of the support beam 10. The links 92 are pivotally secured to respective mating links 94 by means of pivot pins 96 (only one being shown) in the manner as illustrated in FIG. 5. In addition, each of the links 94 have a U-shaped cross-section so that they engage the respective associated links 92 in a rigid restraining position in the manner as illustrated in FIG. 6. The lower ends of each of the links 94 are pivotally secured to the metal reinforcing plate 58 through pivot pins 98 in the manner as illustrated in FIGS. ll, 2 and 5. The restraining means 90 is also comprised of a pair of links equivalent to the links 92 and 94 and which operate in like manner to restrain the degree of movement of the leg member 36 as aforesaid.

When the leg members 24 and 36 are shifted to the closed position, the point of pivotal connection between the two links 92 and 94, namely the pivot pin 96 will swing inwardly in the manner as illustrated in FIG. 2. The link 92 will then shift into the U-shaped channel formed in the U-shaped link 94. When the legs 24 and 36 are shifted to the open position as illustrated in FIG. 1, the pivot pins 96.will swing in a direction toward the transverse ends of the support beam 10, and when in the fully opened position the links will assume the relative positions as illustrated in FIG. 5. Thus, it can be observed that the links 92 and 94 will not only serve to restrain the outward shifting movement of the leg members 24 and 36, but will also serve as struts to provide increased stability.

. It should be understood that the embodiment of the saw horse illustrated and described herein has been constructed of wood, although a variety of other materials of construction could be employed in the making of this saw horse. For example, the unique design of the saw horse readily lends itself to construction from extruded aluminum thereby providing a lightweight structure which can be mass produced at a relatively low cost, but which nevertheless inherently includes desired rigidity and stability under even substantial loads. In addition, the saw horse of the present invention could be constructed of any of a variety of other metal materials including steel, or the like- It should also be understood that the particular hinges and various movement restraining members employed herein could be altered or modified to meet the requirements of a particular end use.

In use, the saw horse can be collapsed by shifting the two leg elements 46 and 48 as well as the two leg elements 72 and 74 to the closed position where they abut each other and are coplaner with the respective leg members 24 and 36 from which they depend. Thereafter, the restraining means 88 is released by pushing up wardly at the pivot pins 96 to thereby enable the leg member 24 along with the leg elements 46 and 48 to be shifted about the hinge pin 20 to a closed position where the leg 24 and the leg elements 46 and 48 are disposed immediately beneath and lie in juxtaposition to the bottom wall of the support beam 10. In like manner, the restraining means 90 is also released by pushing upwardly at the pivotal connection between the two links forming a part thereof, namely the pivot pin 96., so that the leg member 36, along with the attendant leg elements 72 and 74 may also be shifted to the closed position. In this latter position, the leg member 36 and the elements 72 and 74 carried thereby will lie immediately beneath and in facewise juxtaposition to the outwardly presented end surface of the leg member 24 and the leg extensions 46 and 48. In this way, the saw horse -is folded to a very compact and portable assembly which can be easily transported and stored.

When it is desired to open the saw horse for use, the opposite procedure takes place. .In this case, the leg member 36 along with the attendant leg elements 72 s and 74 are swung to the open position and thereafter the leg elements 72 and 74 are swung outwardly so they are spread apart in the manner as illustrated in FIG. 1. Again, the limit of movement of the leg member 36 is controlled by the restraining means 90 and the limit of movement of the leg elements 72 and 74 is controlled by the links 60 and 62. Thereafter, the leg member 24 can be shifted to the open position followed by an outward shifting movement of the leg elements 46 and 48 to form the structure illustrated in FIG. I. It can thus be observed that this structure is highly stable and is as rigid in its construction as if the various members were connected together in the open position with rigid attachment devices;

Thus, there has been illustrated and described a novel work support assembly which is capable of being collapsed for convenience and easy storage and transportability, and opened for supporting a work piece thereon, and which fulfills all of the objects and advantages sought therefore. Many changes, modifications, variations, and other uses and applications of the subject work support assembly will become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering this specification and the accompanying drawing. All such changes, modifications, variation and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the following claims.

Having thus described my invention what I desire to claim and secure by letters patent is:

l. A portable work support assembly comprising a first member having a surface adapted to receive a work piece in supportive engagement thereon in a manner in which work can be performed on said work piece, a second member and a third member, first hinge means for pivotally mounting said second member on a common wall of said first member at a location proximate one transverse end of said first member so that the second member is swingable about a first pivot point, second hinge means for pivotally mounting said third member on said common wall of said first memher at a location proximate the opposite transverse end thereof so that said third member is swingable about a second pivot point, said second member being swingable about said first pivot point through an arc in a first plane perpendicular to said common wall from a position where it is located in relatively flat juxtaposition to and substantially parallel to said common wall to a position where it is angularly disposed to the common wall of said first member, said third member being swingable about said second pivot point through an arc in a first plane perpendicular to said common wall from a position where it lies in juxtaposition to and in substantially parallel relation to said second member on opposite sides of said second member with respect to said first member to a position where it is angularly disposed to the common wall of said first member, a first pair of extended elements pivotally mounted on said second member, and a second pair of extended elements pivotally mounted on said third member, the extended elements common to said first pair of extended elements lying in juxtaposition to each other and the extended elements common to said second pair of extended elements lying juxtaposition to each-other and extending in planes substantially parallel to their respective second and third members, when the second and third members are located in juxtaposition to said common wall, said extended elements of each of said pairs being shiftable through respective arcs in second and third planes which are relatively perpendicular to said first plane in such manner that the extended elements are shiftable to a position where the elements of each pair are angularly located with respect to each other and angularly located with respect to the second and third members with which they are associated, each of said second and third members and associated pairs of respective extended elements having a length which is substantially greater than the distance between their respective first and second pivot points and the midpoint of said first member, said second pivot point being located on said third member in a plane which is spaced further from said first member than the plane in which said first pivot point is located on said second member.

2. The portable work support assembly of claim 1 further characterized in that said first member is a generally horizontally disposed member and said second and third members extend generally downwardly from said first member when they are angularly disposed to the common wall of said first member, and said first and second pairs of extended elements extend in the plane of their respective associated first and second members, said extended elements of each pair also extending outwardly from their respective second and third members when the extended elements common to each pair are angularly located with respect to each other.

3. The portable work support assembly of claim 2 further characterized in that said hinge means comprises a first hinge member pivotally connecting said second member to the common wall of said first member at the upper end of said first member, and a second hinge member pivotally connecting said third member to said common wall at a point spaced downwardly from the upper end of said third member.

4. The portable work support assembly of claim 3 further characterized in that a third hinge member is provided for achieving the pivotal connection of said first pair of extended elements to said second member and a fourth hinge member is provided for achieving the pivotal connection of said second pair of extended elements to said third member, and first element restraining means operatively associated with said third hinge member and second element restraining means operatively associated with said fourth hinge member to restrain the limit of pivotal movement of each of said extended elements common to each of said pairs.

5. The portable work support assembly of claim 3 further characterized in that a third hinge member is provided for achieving the pivotal connection of said first pair of extended elements to said second member and a fourth hinge member is provided for achieving the pivotal connection of said second pair of extended elements to said third member, and first element restraining means operatively associated with said third hinge member and second element restraining means operatively associated with said fourth hinge member to restrain the limit of pivotal movement of each of said extended elements common to each of said pairs, and first and second member restraining means operatively associated with said first and second hinge members respectively to limit the pivotal movement of said second and third members.

6. A portable saw horse comprising a generally horizontally disposed support beam having a relatively flat upper surface adapted to receive a work piece thereon in a manner in which work can be performed on said work piece, first and second leg members, first hinge means for hingedly mounting said first leg member on said support beam through a first hinge point located in a region proximate to one of the transverse ends of said support beam, second hinge means for hingedly mounting said second leg member on said support beam through a second hinge point located proximate to the other transverse end of the support beam, said first leg member being swingable about said first hinge point from a closed position where it lies in a position substantially parallel to and lying in juxtaposition to said support beam to an open position where it depends generally downwardly from and is angularly located with respect to said support beam, said second leg member being swingable about said second hinge point from a closed position where it lies beneath and in juxtaposition to and in substantially parallel relation to said first leg member to an open position where it depends generally downwardly from and is angularly located with respect to said support beam, a first pair of leg elements hingedly mounted on the first leg member, and a second pair of leg elements hingedly mounted on the second leg member, the leg elements common to said pairs of leg elements being shiftable from a closed position where they lie in juxtaposition to each other and are coplanar with the leg member with which they are associated to an open position where they are angularly located with respect to each other and extend outwardly from said respective leg member with which they are associated, each of said first and second leg members and associated pairs of leg elements having a length which is substantially greater than the distance between their respective first and second hinge points and the midpoint of said support beam, said second hinge point being located on said second leg member in a plane which is spaced downwardly from the plane in which said first hinge point is located on said first leg member.

' 7. The portable saw horse of claim 6 further characterized in that a third hinge means hingedly mount said first pair of leg elements on said first leg member and fourth hinge means hingedly mount said second pair of leg elements on said second leg member.

8. The portable saw horse of claim 7 further characterized in that restraining means is operatively associated with said first and second hinge means for limiting the shiftable movement of each of said first and second leg members.

9. The portable saw horse of claim 10 further characterized in that said restraining means comprises first shiftable link means extending between said first leg member and said support beam and second shiftable link means extending betweensaid second leg member and said support beam.

10. The portable saw horse of claim 7 further characterized in that restraining means is operatively associated with said third and fourth hinge means for limiting the shiftable movement of each leg element in each of said pair of leg elements.

11. The portable saw horse of claim 10 further characterized in that said restraining means comprises first link means extending between said first leg member and each of the leg elements of said first pair of leg elements, and second link means extending between said second leg member and each of the leg elements of said second pair of leg elements.

12. The portable saw horse of claim 7 further characterized in that the plane of said second hinge point is spaced downwardly from the plane of said first hinge point by a distance which is at least equal to the thickness of the first leg member.

13. A portable saw horse comprising a generally horizontally disposed support beam having a relatively flat upper surface adapted to receive a work piece thereon in a manner in which work can be performed on said work piece, a first leg member, a first hinge member for hingedly mounting said first leg member on said support beam through a first hinge point located in a region proximate to one of the transverse ends of said support beam and in such manner that the hinge point lies immediately on the underside of said horizontally disposed support beam, said first leg member being swingable about said first hinge point from a closed position where it lies in a position substantially parallel to and lying in juxtaposition to said support beam to an open position where it depends generally downwardly from and is angularly located with respect to said support beam, a second leg member, a second hinge member for hingedly mounting said second leg member on said support beam through a second hinge point located proximate to the other transverse end of the support beam and in such manner that the second hinge point is spaced downwardly from the underside of said horizontally disposed support beam for 'a distance at least equal to the thickness of said first leg member, said second leg member being swingable about said second hinge point from a closed position where it lies beneath and in juxtaposition to and in substantially parallel relation to said first leg member to an open position where it depends generally downwardly from and is angularly located with respect to said support beam, first link restraining means extending between said first leg member and support beam and second link restraining means extending between said second leg member and support beam for respectively limiting the shiftable movement of said first and second leg members, a first pair of leg elements, third and fourth hinge members for hingedly mounting said first pair of leg elements on the lower end of said first leg member, a second pair of leg elements, fifth and sixth hinge members for hingedly mounting said second pair of leg elements on the lower end of said second leg member, the leg elements common to said pair of leg elements being shiftable from a closed position where they lie in juxtaposition to each other and are coplanar with the leg mem her with which they are associated to an open position where they are angularly located with respect to each other and extend outwardly from said respective leg member with which they are associated, third link restraining means extending between said first leg memher and each of the leg elements of said first pair of leg elements for limiting the shiftable movement of each said leg element, and fourth link restraining means extending between said second leg member and each of the leg elements of said second pair of leg elements for limiting the shiftable movement of each said leg elethem, each of said first and second leg members and associated pairs of leg elements having a length which is substantially greater than the distance between their respective first and second hinge points and the midpoint of said support beam. 

1. A portable work support assembly comprising a first member having a surface adapted to receive a work piece in supportive engagement thereon in a manner in which work can be performed on said work piece, a second member and a third member, first hinge means for pivotally mounting said second member on a common wall of said first member at a location proximate one transverse end of said first member so that the second member is swingable about a first pivot point, second hinge means for pivotally mounting said third member on said common wall of said first member at a location proximate the opposite transverse end thereof so that said third member is swingable about a second pivot point, said second member being swingable about said first pivot point through an arc in a first plane perpendicular to said common wall from a position where it is located in relatively flat juxtaposition to and substantially parallel to said common wall to a position where it is angularly disposed to the common wall of said first member, said third member being swingable about said second pivot point through an arc in a first plane perpendicular to said common wall from a position where it lies in juxtaposition to and in substantially parallel relation to said second member on opposite sides of said second member with respect to said first member to a position where it is angularly disposed to the common wall of said first member, a first pair of extended elements pivotally mounted on said second member, and a second pair of extended elements pivotally mounted on said third member, the extended elements common to said first pair of extended elements lying in juxtaposition to each other and the extended elements common to said second pair of extended elements lying juxtaposition to each other and extending in planes substantially parallel to their respective second and third members, when the second and third members are located in juxtaposition to said common wall, said extended elements of each of said pairs being shiftable through respective arcs in second and third planes which are relatively perpendicular to said first plane in such manner that the extended elements are shiftable to a position where the elements of each pair are angularly located with respect to each other and angularly located with respect to the second and third members with which they are associated, each of said second and third members and associated pairs of respective extended elements having a length which is substantially greater than the distance between their respective first and second pivot points and the midpoint of said first member, said second pivot point being located on said third member in a plane which is spaced further from said first member than the plane in which said first pivot point is located on said second member.
 2. The portable work support assembly of claim 1 further characterized in that said first member is a generally horizontally disposed member and said second and third members extend generally downwardly from said first member when they are angularly disposed to the common wall of said first member, and said first and second pairs of extended elements extend in the plane of their respective associated first and second members, said extended elements of each pair also extending outwardly from their respective second and third members when the extended elements common to each pair are angularly located with respect to each other.
 3. The portable work support assembly of claim 2 further characterized in that said hinge means comprises a first hinge member pivotally connecting said second member to the common wall of said first member at the upper end of said first member, and a second hinge member pivotally connecting said third member to said common wall at a point spaced downwardly from the upper end of said third member.
 4. The portable work support assembly of claim 3 further characterized in that a third hinge member is provided for achieving the pivotal connection of said first pair of extended elements to said second member and a fourth hinge member is provided for achieving the pivotal connection of said second pair of extended elements to said third member, and first element restraining means operatively associated with said third hinge member and second element restraining means operatively associated with said fourth hinge member to restrain the limit of pivotal movement of each of said extended elements common to each of said pairs.
 5. The portable work support assembly of claim 3 further characterized in that a third hinge member is provided for achieving the pivotal connection of said first pair of extended elements to said second member and a fourth hinge member is provided for achieving the pivotal connection of said second pair of extended elements to said third member, and first element restraining means operatively associated with said third hinge member and second element restraining means operatively associated with said fourth hinge member to restrain the limit of pivotal movement of each of said extended elements common to each of said pairs, and first and second member restraining means operatively associated with said first and second hinge members respectively to limit the pivotal movement of said second and third members.
 6. A portable saw horse comprising a generally horizontally disposed support beam having a relatively flat upper surface adapted to receive a work piece thereon in a manner in which work can be performed on said work piece, first and second leg members, first hinge means for hingEdly mounting said first leg member on said support beam through a first hinge point located in a region proximate to one of the transverse ends of said support beam, second hinge means for hingedly mounting said second leg member on said support beam through a second hinge point located proximate to the other transverse end of the support beam, said first leg member being swingable about said first hinge point from a closed position where it lies in a position substantially parallel to and lying in juxtaposition to said support beam to an open position where it depends generally downwardly from and is angularly located with respect to said support beam, said second leg member being swingable about said second hinge point from a closed position where it lies beneath and in juxtaposition to and in substantially parallel relation to said first leg member to an open position where it depends generally downwardly from and is angularly located with respect to said support beam, a first pair of leg elements hingedly mounted on the first leg member, and a second pair of leg elements hingedly mounted on the second leg member, the leg elements common to said pairs of leg elements being shiftable from a closed position where they lie in juxtaposition to each other and are coplanar with the leg member with which they are associated to an open position where they are angularly located with respect to each other and extend outwardly from said respective leg member with which they are associated, each of said first and second leg members and associated pairs of leg elements having a length which is substantially greater than the distance between their respective first and second hinge points and the midpoint of said support beam, said second hinge point being located on said second leg member in a plane which is spaced downwardly from the plane in which said first hinge point is located on said first leg member.
 7. The portable saw horse of claim 6 further characterized in that a third hinge means hingedly mount said first pair of leg elements on said first leg member and fourth hinge means hingedly mount said second pair of leg elements on said second leg member.
 8. The portable saw horse of claim 7 further characterized in that restraining means is operatively associated with said first and second hinge means for limiting the shiftable movement of each of said first and second leg members.
 9. The portable saw horse of claim 10 further characterized in that said restraining means comprises first shiftable link means extending between said first leg member and said support beam and second shiftable link means extending between said second leg member and said support beam.
 10. The portable saw horse of claim 7 further characterized in that restraining means is operatively associated with said third and fourth hinge means for limiting the shiftable movement of each leg element in each of said pair of leg elements.
 11. The portable saw horse of claim 10 further characterized in that said restraining means comprises first link means extending between said first leg member and each of the leg elements of said first pair of leg elements, and second link means extending between said second leg member and each of the leg elements of said second pair of leg elements.
 12. The portable saw horse of claim 7 further characterized in that the plane of said second hinge point is spaced downwardly from the plane of said first hinge point by a distance which is at least equal to the thickness of the first leg member.
 13. A portable saw horse comprising a generally horizontally disposed support beam having a relatively flat upper surface adapted to receive a work piece thereon in a manner in which work can be performed on said work piece, a first leg member, a first hinge member for hingedly mounting said first leg member on said support beam through a first hinge point located in a region proximate to one of the transverse ends of said support beam and in such manner that the hinge poInt lies immediately on the underside of said horizontally disposed support beam, said first leg member being swingable about said first hinge point from a closed position where it lies in a position substantially parallel to and lying in juxtaposition to said support beam to an open position where it depends generally downwardly from and is angularly located with respect to said support beam, a second leg member, a second hinge member for hingedly mounting said second leg member on said support beam through a second hinge point located proximate to the other transverse end of the support beam and in such manner that the second hinge point is spaced downwardly from the underside of said horizontally disposed support beam for a distance at least equal to the thickness of said first leg member, said second leg member being swingable about said second hinge point from a closed position where it lies beneath and in juxtaposition to and in substantially parallel relation to said first leg member to an open position where it depends generally downwardly from and is angularly located with respect to said support beam, first link restraining means extending between said first leg member and support beam and second link restraining means extending between said second leg member and support beam for respectively limiting the shiftable movement of said first and second leg members, a first pair of leg elements, third and fourth hinge members for hingedly mounting said first pair of leg elements on the lower end of said first leg member, a second pair of leg elements, fifth and sixth hinge members for hingedly mounting said second pair of leg elements on the lower end of said second leg member, the leg elements common to said pair of leg elements being shiftable from a closed position where they lie in juxtaposition to each other and are coplanar with the leg member with which they are associated to an open position where they are angularly located with respect to each other and extend outwardly from said respective leg member with which they are associated, third link restraining means extending between said first leg member and each of the leg elements of said first pair of leg elements for limiting the shiftable movement of each said leg element, and fourth link restraining means extending between said second leg member and each of the leg elements of said second pair of leg elements for limiting the shiftable movement of each said leg element, each of said first and second leg members and associated pairs of leg elements having a length which is substantially greater than the distance between their respective first and second hinge points and the midpoint of said support beam. 